Tourist muggers nabbed in Pasay

Two young women and a man were arrested after they allegedly robbed a Japanese tourist of some ¥100,000 in Pasay City yesterday, the police said.

The arrested suspects came just after ranking officials of the National Capital Regional Office (NCRPO), Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Southern Police District Office (SPDO), announced a crackdown on criminal groups victimizing tourists, particularly the Japanese, in southern Metro Manila.

Superintendent Eduardo de la Cerna, Pasay City chief of police, identified the suspects as Myla Gonzalez, 22, and Marilyn Acosta, 23, both of San Andres, Malate, Manila, and Junbert Sapido, 27, of Bicutan, Taguig.

Their three other accomplices managed to escape after police came to the rescue of Japanese national Kitahara Takashi, 46, currently billeted at the Trader’s Hotel along Roxas Boulevard.

The suspects were presented to the media at a press conference where NCRPO chief Director Edgar Aglipay, NAIA General Manager Edgardo Manda, and SPDO commander Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez announced the launching of Task Force Samurai.

PO1 Ronald Alla, one of the arresting officers, said the incident happened at around 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of Buendia Avenue and Roxas Boulevard.

Through a journalist acting as interpreter, Takashi said he was at a food outlet near his hotel when one of the two female suspects snatched his wallet.

He ran after the two women who boarded a waiting FX taxi, with four people on board, including the driver. Takashi said he rode the vehicle as well, thinking it was a regular taxi cab.

But it turned out to be the suspects’ getaway vehicle.

Takashi tried to get off and as he fought the suspects, the commotion caught the attention of policemen in the area.

Takashi managed to get out of the vehicle before it sped away. But three suspects were not able to get far as they jumped off the FX taxi, with Sapido’s pants getting caught in the back wheel, resulting in injuries to his left leg. Their accomplices managed to escape with Takashi’s money worth P38,000.

Aglipay said that the arrest should serve as a warning to robbers victimizing tourists. Manda explained that officials organized Task Force Samurai after President Arroyo expressed concern over the series of armed robbery incidents where Japanese are often the victims.